ACTIVITIES AND LINKS

When you feel like venturing out into the natural world there is a wide range of activities available within minutes of the NatureQuest Lodge. If you have an interest in outdoor pursuits, the West Clare peninsula provides a superb environment to let you create your own unique holiday. Many of the activity operators are committed to the ideals of sustainable eco-tourism and like NatureQuest, are members of Irrus a West Clare eco-tourism project.

The Shannon Estuary is home to Ireland's only resident population of bottlenose dolphins and dolphin watching trips on purpose built boats may be arranged daily with departures from Carrigaholt and Kilrush. www.dolphinwatch.ie www.shannondolphins.ie

The clean clear Atlantic waters off the peninsula together with underwater reefs and cliffs give West Clare some of the finest scuba diving in Europe and full diving facilities are available at the Kilkee Diving and Watersports Centre. www.diveireland.com If you wish to keep your feet dry, but still encounter the inhabitants of the deep, visit Lahinch Seaworld

Fishing charters can be booked from Kilrush Marina , as well as Dolphin watching trips. Eco-sailing cruises may be chartered on the boat Saoirse which operates during the summer out of Kilrush's 120 berth marina. You may also visit Scattery Island by ferry from the marina and explore the island's 6th Century monastic ruins including a well-preserved round tower built to protect the monks from marauding Vikings.

For those with an interest in geology the Loop Head peninsula has excellent examples of carboniferous rock formations, folding and slumping being particularly evident along the Atlantic coast. The botanist will delight in the peculiar raised bogs of Carrowmore and Monmore, once the center of a great turf cutting district but now a refuge for the plants that grow in a habitat that has all but disappeared from mainland Europe. www.birdwatchireland.ie

Kilrush itself is a bustling market town, one of the Heritage Towns of Ireland, it has woodland walks and a number of visitor centres.www.westclare.com

Kilkee is the nearest town to the NatureQuest Lodge and is reputed to have the safest bathing beach in Ireland and has all the night life associated with a resort town. And when the weather is not permitting you can always have a swim in Kilkee Waterworld.

Several beaches on this coast are well loved by surfers and beginners can take lessons from the Surf School in Lahinch, which also runs classes in Spanish Point and in Kilkee.

Horse riding and bicycle hire are available locally while golfers are welcome at Kilkee's spectacular 18 hole cliff top course. Kilrush is described as the friendliest golf club in Ireland and the championship links courses at Lahinch and Ballybunion are within an hour's drive from the NatureQuest. The Greg Norman designed Doonbeg Golf Links is located in a spectacular coastal setting, 5 miles away near the village of Doonbeg. If you would like a break from all the activity Kilkee has a Thallosotherapy Centre where you can indulge in seaweed and seawater therapies while Kilrush has a Holistic Centre.

West Clare is renowned for its traditional Irish music and dancing and has many fine pubs where you will be immediately welcome to join in "the craic". Unspoiled West Clare opens its heart to its visitors and we will be happy to recommend and book any of these additional activities that you might like to engage in.

Expect the Unexpected. Let Each Day be a New Adventure.